"The Wringer" is one of the stronger entries, featuring the second and last appearance of Charles (Paul Whitsun-Jones), Steed's superior from "Man with Two Shadows," whose dreary office can't compare with the butcher shop occupied by Ronald Radd's Quilpie in "The Outside-In Man." Charles calls in Steed to investigate the disappearance of fellow agent Hal Anderson (Peter Sallis), who was assigned to find out how six agents died in a mountainous area of Eastern Europe. Both are surprised when Anderson turns up in Scotland and presents a timeline that portrays Steed as the murderous traitor, followed by a conviction that sends Steed off to a secret location for agents who have outlived their usefulness. This is where he is victimized by The Wringer (Terence Lodge, previously seen in "Man with Two Shadows"), who conducts techniques in brainwashing that worked on Anderson, but must contend with Cathy Gale if he hopes to succeed in doing the same to Steed. Peter Sallis was a Hammer veteran who appeared in 1961's "The Curse of the Werewolf" and 1969's "Taste the Blood of Dracula," and Gerald Sim, back for his third out of five episodes ("The Radioactive Man," "Mission to Montreal," "Dial a Deadly Number," "The Rotters"), went on to do Hammer's 1971 "Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde," scripted by Brian Clemens. Douglas Cumming previously appeared in "The Gilded Cage," while Paul Whitsun-Jones returned playing different roles in "Room Without a View" and "Fog."
Review of The Wringer
